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Roberto Argazzi

Publications and source records attributed to Roberto Argazzi.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Efficient non-corrosive electron-transfer mediator mixtures for dye-sensitized solar cells.

The electrochemical and photoelectrochemical study of noncorrosive electron-transfer mediator mixtures for DSC is reported. These mixtures, characterized by the presence of kinetically fast organic or metal-organic redox couples in conjunction with a Co(II)/(III) relay, exhibited maximum photon-to-current conversion efficiencies (IPCE %) exceeding 80% when employed in the presence of a suitably designed MLCT sensitizer, rivaling with the performances of the classical I-/I3- electrolyte.

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6-N,N-dimethylamino-2,3-naphthalimide: a new environment-sensitive fluorescent probe in delta- and mu-selective opioid peptides.

A new environment-sensitive fluorophore, 6-N,N-(dimethylamino)-2,3-naphthalimide (6DMN) was introduced in the delta-selective opioid peptide agonist H-Dmt-Tic-Glu-NH(2) and in the mu-selective opioid peptide agonist endomorphin-2 (H-Tyr-Pro-Phe-Phe-NH(2)). Environment-sensitive fluorophores are a special class of chromophores that generally exhibit a low quantum yield in aqueous solution but become highly fluorescent in nonpolar solvents or when bound to hydrophobic sites in proteins or membranes. New fluorescent delta-selective irreversible antagonists (H-Dmt-Tic-Glu-NH-(CH(2))(5)-CO-Dap(6DMN)-NH(2) (1) and H-Dmt-Tic-Glu-Dap(6DMN)-NH(2) (2)) were identified as potential fluorescent probes showing good properties for use in studies of distribution and internalization of delta receptors by confocal laser scanning microscopy.

Animals↗

Solid-state photochromic device based on nanocrystalline TiO2 functionalized with electron donor-acceptor species.

In this Communication, we report on a new type of solid-state photochromic device, S-TiO(2)-A, which is based on electron-transfer processes involving a molecular sensitizer (S) and an electron acceptor (A) coadsorbed onto the surface of nanocrystalline TiO(2). The electron-transfer process is mediated by the semiconductor conduction band and leads to a long-lived charge-separated state S(+)/A(-). The lifetime of this state can be controlled by oxygen diffusion through a polymeric coating deposited on the device.

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Sensitization of nanocrystalline TiO2 with black absorbers based on Os and Ru polypyridine complexes.

New metal complexes of the type [M(H3tcterpy)LY]+ (where M = Os(II) or Ru(II), L = substituted or unsubstituted bipyridine or pyridylquinoline, and Y = Cl-, I-, or SCN-) have been designed, synthesized, and characterized in view of their application for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The Os dyes show a very broad absorption, and correspondingly, the DSSCs show an unprecedented spectral response in the NIR, with an onset at 1100 nm, reaching values of about 50% at 900 nm. The integrated photocurrent of some of such Os dyes is similar to that of the well-known [Ru(Htcterpy)(NCS)3](TBA) and superior to that of the [Ru(Hdcbpy)2(NCS)2](TBA)2 sensitizer. The Ru dyes show absorption and DSSC spectral response between those of the red and black dyes. Their advantage is their potential superior stability due to the reversible oxidative electrochemistry.

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Highly selective fluorescent analogue of the potent delta-opioid receptor antagonist Dmt-Tic.

A fluorescent tripeptide probe derived by coupling fluorescein to H-Dmt-Tic-Glu-NH2 was developed to interact with delta-opioid receptors with high affinity (Ki = 0.035 nM) and selectivity (Ki(mu)/Ki(delta) = 4371). It acts as an irreversible delta-opioid receptor antagonist, and binding to NG108-15 cells is blocked by the standard nonpeptidic delta-opioid receptor antagonist naltrindole. This probe should prove useful in the study of the distribution of delta-opioid receptors in tissues and the internalization of opioid peptides during signal transduction.

Animals↗

Electrochromic devices based on binuclear mixed valence compounds adsorbed on nanocrystalline semiconductors.

A series of cyano-bridged binuclear mixed valence complexes of the general formula M-Ru(III)(NH(3))(4)pyCOOH [pyCOOH = isonicotinic acid; M = cis-Ru(bpy)(2)(CN)(2), 1 (bpy = 2,2' bipyridine); trans-Ru(py)(4)(CN)(2), 2 (py = pyridine); [Ru(CN)(6)](4)(-), 3; [Fe(CN)(6)](4)(-), 4] have been prepared and anchored through the carboxylic function to nanocrystalline TiO(2) or SnO(2) electrodes. The complexes display a reversible electrochromic behavior in the range of applied potential from -0.5 to +0.5 V, versus SCE. Tuning of the electronic transitions in the visible and near-infrared spectral regions is achieved through changes of the solvent and of the cyano-bridged metal moiety M.

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Efficient Light-to-Electrical Energy Conversion with Dithiocarbamate-Ruthenium Polypyridyl Sensitizers.

New Ru(dcbH)(dcbH(2))(L) sensitizers, where L is diethyldithiocarbamate, dibenzyldithiocarbamate, or pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate, dcbH is 4-(COOH)-4'-(COO(-))-2,2'-bipyridine, and dcbH(2) is 4,4'-(COOH)(2)-2,2'-bipyridine, have been synthesized, characterized, and anchored to nanocrystalline TiO(2) films for light to electrical energy conversion in regenerative photoelectrochemical cells with I(-)/I(2) acetonitrile electrolyte. The sensitizers have intense metal-to-ligand charge-transfer (MLCT) bands centered approximately 380 and 535 nm that sensitize TiO(2) over a notably broad spectral range. The photophysical and photoelectrochemical studies of these materials are contrasted with cis-Ru(dcbH(2))(2)(NCS)(2), which is one of the most efficient sensitizers reported to date. Photophysical measurements show that the high photocurrent observed for cis-Ru(dcb)(2)(NCS)(2)/TiO(2) is due to efficient and rapid iodide oxidation.

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